Helicopter Express
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersChamblee, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Helicopter Express firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Helicopter Express
- Legal name
- Helicopter Express
- Website
- https://helicopterexpress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Helicopter Express industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heavy Lift Helicopter Aviation Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Helicopter Passenger Services (TLAFAAAE)
Keywords
Where Helicopter Express is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chamblee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Helicopter Express business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Heavy Lifting & Construction Services: Revenue generated from helicopter crane services for construction projects including HVAC placement, tower construction, pipeline construction, and outsize load transport. Billed per project/contract basis.
- Government Firefighting Contracts: Contracted by numerous government agencies for wildfire suppression, prescribed burning, rappelling operations, and search and rescue. Forms a significant recurring revenue stream through multi-year agency contracts.
- Utility Construction Services: Aerial support for electrical and energy construction including power line construction and repair, cell tower placement, and natural gas line construction.
- Private Charter Services: Premium helicopter charter services for executive travel, scenic tours, and special events. Revenue generated per flight hour or per-trip basis from locations in Georgia, Wyoming, Texas, California, Oregon, and Florida.
- Aerial Cinematography: Aerial filming services for film producers in Georgia and the Southeast U.S., including picture ship and camera ship operations with Screen Actor Guild carded pilots.
- Acquisition of Erickson's Aerial Firefighting Division: Strategic acquisition expanding Helicopter Express's heavy-lift operations globally by acquiring Erickson's aerial firefighting division capabilities.
- Disaster Relief & Emergency Response: Humanitarian helicopter operations including search and rescue, debris field searches, food and water delivery, and survey flights following natural disasters. May be government-funded emergency contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing for heavy lift, construction, firefighting, disaster relief, and charter services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Helicopter Express product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Helicopter Express provides contracted helicopter services spanning heavy-lift construction support (up to 25,000 lbs external load via Sikorsky Skycranes), aerial firefighting and wildfire suppression, disaster relief and search-and-rescue, utility construction support, aerial cinematography, and private charter trips. The company operates a diverse fleet of 45 helicopters and delivers services to government agencies, construction firms, energy/utility companies, and film production clients in the U.S. and five international markets.
Product overview
Helicopter Express operates as a heavy lift helicopter services company offering a diverse fleet of 45 helicopters ranging from light utility aircraft to heavy-lift aerial cranes. The fleet includes Sikorsky S-64E/F Skycranes (25,000 lb max lift), Kaman K-Max K-1200, S-61 Sikorsky, Bell 412EPX, Bell 429, Bell 407HP, Bell 205A-1++, Airbus AS-350 B3/B3E, and Bell 206-B3 models. Service offerings span six core areas: Heavy Lifting (aerial crane services up to 25,000 lbs), Utility Construction, Firefighting (with Bambi Bucket capabilities), Disaster Relief, Aerial Cinematography, and Private Charter. The company operates globally with annual contracts in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Chile, and Italy, while maintaining its headquarters and 250-acre facility in North Georgia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Heavy Lifting Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Lift capacity of up to 25,000 lbs per mission with Sikorsky S-64E & S-64F Skycranes
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Helicopter Express
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Helicopter Express technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Helicopter Express partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EntrolcoreEntrol announced the sale of a Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane Flight Training Device (FTD) to Helicopter Express, scheduled for completion in October 2026 with delivery in February 2027. The simulator will be FAA FTD Level 7 certified, representing both the first S-64 FTD for Helicopter Express and the third S-64 FTD in the world, all manufactured by Entrol. This marks a significant milestone in heavy-lift pilot training for firefighting, construction, and disaster relief missions.
- Erickson (Aerial Firefighting Division)coreHelicopter Express Inc. acquired Erickson's aerial firefighting division to expand heavy-lift operations globally. This strategic acquisition adds Erickson's firefighting capabilities and equipment to Helicopter Express's portfolio, strengthening its position in aerial firefighting services.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Helicopter Express competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Columbia Helicopters: Columbia Helicopters is the closest direct peer to Helicopter Express in heavy-lift rotorcraft operations, operating the Columbia Model 234 (CH-47 tandem rotor derivative) and other large helicopters for logging, construction, firefighting, and oil & gas support across the U.S. and internationally. Both companies share the same niche of high-capacity external-load helicopter services.
- Coulson Aviation: Coulson Aviation is a major North American aerial firefighting operator with Boeing Chinooks, Sikorsky S-61s, and S-64 Skycranes, directly competing with Helicopter Express in heavy-lift wildfire suppression contracts in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Both companies focus on government firefighting contracts and have been expanding international operations.
- Billings Flying Service: Billings Flying Service is a U.S. utility helicopter operator providing aerial firefighting, power line construction, and external load work. Helicopter Express's own Director of Safety came from Billings Flying Service, underscoring close operational overlap and personnel crossover in the U.S. aerial work market.
- Siller Brothers: Siller Brothers operates heavy-lift helicopters (Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane, S-58, S-55) for construction, logging, and firefighting in the western U.S. and Latin America. It is one of the few other commercial Skycrane operators in the U.S. and competes with Helicopter Express in the heavy-lift external-load segment.
Broad incumbents
- Bristow Group: Bristow Group is a large global helicopter services provider focused primarily on offshore oil & gas transport, search and rescue, and government services. While not a direct heavy-lift competitor, Bristow overlaps with Helicopter Express in government contracting, charter services, and utility helicopter operations.
- PHI Aviation: PHI Aviation is one of the world's largest helicopter operators, with strong positions in offshore oil & gas, air medical, and technical services. It is a broad incumbent in the same industry as Helicopter Express and competes for utility and government helicopter contracts.
- Air Methods: Air Methods is the largest air medical transport provider in the U.S. and also operates a charter/VIP helicopter business. While primarily focused on medevac, it competes with Helicopter Express for charter, VIP, and government helicopter contracts.
Emerging players
- Heli-Lift Solutions: Heli-Lift Solutions is a heavy-lift helicopter operator in Australia specializing in precision external-load construction, firefighting support, and utility work. It overlaps with Helicopter Express's Australian annual contract activities and represents a regional heavy-lift competitor.
- Global Helicopter Group: Global Helicopter Group provides heavy-lift and utility helicopter services in South America, including Chile and Argentina. It competes with Helicopter Express in the same South American international contract markets and offers similar Skycrane-class capabilities.
Others
- CalFire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection): CalFire is a major public-sector buyer of aerial firefighting helicopters, contracting with operators like Helicopter Express and Coulson Aviation. It is not a competitor but a key customer ecosystem participant and a direct counterparty in U.S. firefighting helicopter procurement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Helicopter Express social profiles
Digital presenceHelicopter Express financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Helicopter Express leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Helicopter Express funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Helicopter Express M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Helicopter Express
What does Helicopter Express do?
Helicopter Express provides contracted helicopter services spanning heavy-lift construction support (up to 25,000 lbs external load via Sikorsky Skycranes), aerial firefighting and wildfire suppression, disaster relief and search-and-rescue, utility construction support, aerial cinematography, and private charter trips. The company operates a diverse fleet of 45 helicopters and delivers services to government agencies, construction firms, energy/utility companies, and film production clients in the U.S. and five international markets.
Is Helicopter Express a public or private company?
Helicopter Express is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Helicopter Express founded?
Helicopter Express was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Helicopter Express based?
Helicopter Express is headquartered in Chamblee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Helicopter Express make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Heavy Lifting & Construction Services are the primary driver. The others are government Firefighting Contracts, utility Construction Services, private Charter Services, aerial Cinematography, acquisition of Erickson's Aerial Firefighting Division and disaster Relief & Emergency Response.
Who are Helicopter Express's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Columbia Helicopters, Coulson Aviation, Billings Flying Service and Siller Brothers. Broad incumbents are Bristow Group, PHI Aviation and Air Methods. Emerging players are Heli-Lift Solutions and Global Helicopter Group. CalFire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) is listed as an others.
Does Helicopter Express have an API?
No public API is recorded for Helicopter Express.
What industry is Helicopter Express in?
Helicopter Express's product category is Heavy Lift Helicopter Aviation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFACAB, On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate), with a secondary code of TLAFAAAE, Helicopter Passenger Services. Its NAICS code is 4812 and its SIC code is 7350.